Huawei and Leica still partnered to make new cameras

It seems that the two companies have found a very productive relationship as it continues to partner in making new phone cameras for Huawei.

Leica and Huawei are planning on having new research and innovation center to be built in Wetzlar, Germany. This was a result of them still teaming up for future developments in making new products. This innovation center was named the Max Berek Innovation Lab, named after the famed optical pioneer who created many of Leica’s early lenses, continues a partnership first announced in February and solidified in April with the launch of Huawei’s Leica-branded P9 phone.

According to Huawei, the R&D lab will “drive further development of optical systems and software-based technologies to improve imaging quality in a wide range of photographic and mobile device applications,” including AR and VR solutions. It’s not clear when work will begin at the center.

It was never quite clear just how Leica and Huawei shared the load in the P9’s camera design, particularly given the legendary German company’s propensity to licensing its iconic brand to basically anyone. With the P9’s camera being very impressive but not totally perfect as expected from Leica’s expertise in lens making. But it’s significant that Leica is allotting space at its own HQ to the Chinese technology giant, at least, suggesting that the two companies might just be serious about doing legitimate work together.

This could be a good sign that Leica may well be mutually benefit from this partnership with a mobile company. It’s a good idea to be able to branch out to something people always buy than just focus on enthusiast and professional cameras.